Complexity Collapse
framework
Societies don't always decline slowly — sometimes they get so complex to maintain that they suddenly crash and simplify.
Who they are
'Complexity Collapse,' a framework from archaeologist Joseph Tainter.
What they do
The engine uses it as a model for how civilizations fail.
How it works
As a society adds complexity it gets diminishing returns; once the cost of maintaining that complexity outweighs its benefits, the system doesn't gently wind down — it simplifies catastrophically.
Why it matters
It's a lens the engine uses to understand sudden systemic breakdown rather than gradual decline.
The engine's record — word for word
Tainter. Diminishing returns on societal complexity. When cost of maintaining complexity exceeds its benefits, systems simplify catastrophically.
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